Understanding Single-use Plastics: Is a Ban Necessary?

Main Points

At the start of 2020, China became part of a global initiative, with over 120 nations committing to prohibit single-use plastics. With a population of 1.4 billion, China leads the world in generating plastic waste, surpassing 60 million tons (54.4 million metric tons) in 2010, according to a September 2018 report titled "Plastic Pollution."

China revealed its strategy to ban the production and sale of non-biodegradable bags by the end of 2020 in key urban areas (and nationwide by 2022), along with single-use straws by the same year. Produce markets have until 2025 to comply with these regulations.

The movement to eliminate plastics gained momentum in 2018 with high-profile campaigns like the acclaimed #StopSucking initiative, which saw celebrities such as NFL quarterback Tom Brady, his wife Gisele Bündchen, and actor Adrian Grenier vowing to abandon single-use plastic straws. Today, numerous countries and corporations are rejecting plastics, and consumers are joining the cause.

As the global effort to ban plastics reaches significant achievements — including China's recent policy — we aim to clarify the types of bottles, bags, and straws driving this worldwide debate.

What Is Single-use Plastic?

As the term suggests, single-use plastics are designed for one-time use before being discarded or recycled. This category encompasses a wide range of items, from beverage bottles and grocery bags to disposable razors and decorative ribbons — essentially any plastic product used briefly and then thrown away. Although these items can be recycled, Megean Weldon from the waste-reduction blog and store Zero Waste Nerd notes that recycling is far from common practice.

"In practice, only a small fraction of plastic items are transformed into new materials or products," she explains via email. "Unlike glass or aluminum, plastic isn't repurposed into its original form after recycling. Its quality degrades, meaning it will ultimately and unavoidably find its way to a landfill."

Consider the example of a plastic water bottle. While most bottles are labeled as recyclable due to their polyethylene terephthalate (PET) composition, nearly 70% of them end up in landfills or as litter. This issue worsened after China halted its plastic recycling program in 2018. As The Atlantic reported, recycling costs surged for municipalities, leading many to choose landfills as a more economical alternative.

Combine this landfill-centric approach with the global surge in plastic usage — humans produce approximately 20,000 plastic bottles every second, according to The Guardian, and U.S. waste increased by 4.5% between 2010 and 2015 — and it's clear why the planet is drowning in plastic waste.

Plastic Could Outlive Us All

Is banning all these plastics excessive? Not when you consider the compelling reasons behind it. For starters, plastic waste in landfills persists indefinitely. Weldon points out that a plastic bag can take 10 to 20 years to decompose, while a plastic bottle may last nearly 500 years. Even after decomposition, microplastic remnants linger.

"Plastic doesn't truly disappear; it fragments into smaller and smaller pieces until they become microscopic, infiltrating our air and water," explains Kathryn Kellogg, author and founder of the sustainability site Going Zero Waste, in an email.

Some supermarkets have adopted biodegradable plastic bags as a compromise, but studies suggest this isn't an effective solution. A study conducted by researchers at the University of Plymouth in England examined 80 biodegradable plastic grocery bags over three years. Their aim was to assess the true biodegradability of these bags. The results were published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology.

Neither soil nor seawater caused the bags to degrade. In fact, three out of the four biodegradable bag types remained strong enough to carry up to 5 pounds (2.2 kilograms) of groceries, just like non-biodegradable bags. While sunlight exposure caused some breakdown, this isn't entirely beneficial. The tiny particles from degradation can easily disperse into the environment — contaminating the air, oceans, or being ingested by animals that mistake plastic fragments for food.

Can't We Just Reuse Single-use Plastic?

Many nations are banning single-use plastics because they aren't suitable for reuse, despite good intentions. With recycling programs dwindling, people often try to repurpose plastic bottles and containers. While this might work for bags, experts warn against reusing plastic bottles or food containers. A study in Environmental Health Perspectives revealed that all plastics used in food containers and bottles can release toxic chemicals when reused repeatedly. (This even applies to products marketed as BPA-free — a chemical linked to hormonal issues.)

While research on the safety of reusing plastics continues, experts recommend switching to glass or metal to avoid potential chemical exposure. Weldon emphasizes the importance of adopting a reuse mindset, whether through cotton produce bags, stainless steel straws, or embracing a zero-waste lifestyle.

"The biggest issue with single-use items is that we devalue them to the point of disposal," she explains. "Our convenience-driven culture has normalized this harmful behavior, leading to millions of tons of waste annually. By shifting our mindset about consumption, we can become more conscious of our plastic use and find ways to reduce it."

This article is part of Covering Climate Now's dedicated week of coverage on Climate Solutions, commemorating the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. Covering Climate Now is a global journalism initiative aimed at enhancing the reporting of climate-related stories.